Malthouse Draws On Fountain Of Youth

The Sunday Age

Sunday March 23, 2008

Martin Boulton

COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse will continue to accelerate the development of his young list after a starring role from debutant Nathan Brown yesterday.

The teenage defender kept Fremantle star forward Matthew Pavlich to one goal in the Magpies' 26-point victory at the MCG and Malthouse, who blooded nine new players last year, said he'll waste no time introducing more.

"We wouldn't pick them if we didn't have any confidence in them," he said.

"They're not restricted by age (and) if they're ready to play, then we'll play them. I don't believe in holding players back if they're ready to go, it doesn't matter if they're 19 or 29, they'll play.

"They were 63 years collectively more experienced than us, were older than us.

"When you put it down to experience, the experience in that would be three years per player, it could be anywhere between 50 and 60 games, that's highly significant.

"So for our young players to hold up and actually go away towards the end is fantastic because we were drawing on youth, we are driven by that enthusiasm," Malthouse said.

"Will they last all year? Maybe not. That's the reason Anthony (Rocca) and these players and hopefully (Simon) Prestigiacomo will come into their own at the right time."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the Pies were taking the game "to a new level".

The only worry for Collingwood was another injury to the promising forward Sean Rusling, who took no further part in the game after injuring his left shoulder before half-time.

The 21-year-old returned last year after two shoulder operations to play five matches and gave every indication he was on track to cementing a spot up forward.

"Let's get the diagnosis out of they way first and then we can declare what he's got and what he hasn't got." Malthouse said when asked about the injury.

"He probably won't play next week, but if he comes up OK, then he plays next week."

Collingwood had 10 players under 21 in its squad yesterday, while Fremantle, under new coach Harvey, opted for experience over youth.

Harvey said it was far from time to panic after one loss, but said he would look at injecting some young players into the squad next week.

"Collingwood appears to be taking the game to another level," he said, after suggesting his players had tired and suffered from the loss of Heath Black with concussion.

"We were off our legs a little bit, so there's a couple things we have got to look at. A number of teams are playing young players in round one . . . we'll have a look at a couple of different positions, check the tape and assess it from there."

Collingwood kicked away in the last term after the game hung in the balance at half-time - booting six goals to three, including three of Rocca's six for the day.

"The first game is always difficult for big players and he (Rocca) mucked up one or two, so maybe he could have kicked more," Malthouse said.

"They (Fremantle) are a good football side and that's why I'm very happy we got over the line and played good football to beat them.

"The bonus is we were able to steady at the right time (and) generally speaking do the right thing."

Malthouse said Brown's first game on Pavlich was part of a plan he hatched with the coaching staff immediately after the retirement of defender James Clement.

"Logic says train someone up, give them the opportunity. He (Brown) and Chris Dawes and 'Jack' (John) Anthony will all play senior football as key backs or key forwards this season."

Harvey was disappointed with dropping his first away game for the year and said he expected more from his forwards.

"To judge them on one performance is harsh, so we'll sit back and work it out over the next couple of weeks," he said.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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